Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport
Encyclopedia
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport ( Maṭār Sharm al-Shaykh al-Duwaliyy) , formerly known as Ophira International Airport, is an international airport
located in Sharm el-Sheikh
, Egypt
. Opened on May 14, 1968, the airport was originally an Israeli Air Force
base and also served the small settlement of Ofira
, before the territory was returned to Egypt following the Camp David Accords
.
In 2008, the Egyptian Airports Holding Company announced plans to build a third new terminal at the airport. The company expects to receive design offers for before the end of September 2008. Ibrahim Mannaa, the director of Airports Holding Company, said that it is a move to meet the sizeable increase in passengers numbers at the airport that exceeded 28% during the first 8 months of 2008.
The largest regular aircraft operating into the airport is the Boeing 747-400
by Transaero Airlines (from Moscow); British Airways
operated the only regular scheduled Boeing 777-200ER
service from Gatwick Airport, which has now ceased.
In 2009, the airport served 7,430,940 passengers (-4.2% vs 2008). It is the second busiest airport in Egypt after Cairo International Airport
.
, Air Cairo
, Eurofly
and Livingston Airlines.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Opened on May 14, 1968, the airport was originally an Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
base and also served the small settlement of Ofira
Ofira
Ofira was an Israeli settlement in the Sharm el-Sheikh area of the southern Sinai Peninsula, an Egyptian territory that was under Israeli occupation from 1967 to 1982. Ofira was settled from 1969, and was meant to accommodate 500 families. An airfield was opened in 1976, today known as Sharm...
, before the territory was returned to Egypt following the Camp David Accords
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following thirteen days of secret negotiations at Camp David. The two framework agreements were signed at the White House, and were witnessed by United States...
.
In 2008, the Egyptian Airports Holding Company announced plans to build a third new terminal at the airport. The company expects to receive design offers for before the end of September 2008. Ibrahim Mannaa, the director of Airports Holding Company, said that it is a move to meet the sizeable increase in passengers numbers at the airport that exceeded 28% during the first 8 months of 2008.
The largest regular aircraft operating into the airport is the Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
by Transaero Airlines (from Moscow); British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
operated the only regular scheduled Boeing 777-200ER
Boeing 777
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
service from Gatwick Airport, which has now ceased.
In 2009, the airport served 7,430,940 passengers (-4.2% vs 2008). It is the second busiest airport in Egypt after Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
.
Terminal 1
On 23 May 2007, the airport's second terminal was inaugurated with a capacity for 5 million passengers per year. The two-level 43,000 m2 terminal features 40 check-in counters and is designed to cater to a large number of international and chartered flights. It has two domestic and six international gates, all of which exit to remote stands. The terminal comprises three building components: two circular-shaped halls fused together by a wedge-shaped intermediate space dubbed 'the boat'. 'The boat' serves as a passenger transit hub housing passport control, duty free, and VIP areas as well as cafes/restaurants. The halls, in stark textural contrast to the solid mass of 'the boat', feature airy, billowing tent-like roofs inspired by the indigenous Bedouin cultureTerminal 2
Although known as 'Terminal 2' this is actually the airport's original terminal building. The building underwent a complete modernisation programme in 2004 and has a passenger handling capacity of 2.5 million passengers per year. Since the auguration of Terminal 1 in 2007 most airlines have shifted operations to the new building with notable exceptions like Air BerlinAir Berlin
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa, and Europe's sixth largest airline in terms of passengers....
, Air Cairo
Air Cairo
Air Cairo is a charter airline based in Cairo, Egypt. The airline is the charter subsidiary of EgyptAir and operates inclusive tour flights to Egypt from Europe, Africa and Asia....
, Eurofly
Eurofly
Eurofly was a privately owned airline based in Milan, Italy. Listed on MTA Stock Exchange and controlled by Meridiana, it was Italy’s leading carrier in leisure flights market and mainly operated international, medium to long haul, point-to-point flights....
and Livingston Airlines.